Not to nitpick but with the correct LW/RW assignments it would be something like this.

I would prefer this:

Zetterberg - Datsyuk - Alfredsson

Nyquist - Weiss - Franzen

Tatar - Helm - Abby

Miller - Andersson - Bert/Eaves/Tootoo

If Franzen works hard during the regular season I would be very comfortable with that lineup. Each line has a shooter and a setup man. I think having one player on each line that is huge for the sake of being huge is a waste of time - you need to give the best players the top minutes and get them out there as much as possible together. Also, chemistry is chemistry so if something that looks weird on paper works then go for it.

I hope Mule has a hell of a year. Also I just LOVE seeing Z one time it from the RW

Well based on the fact that both of those players came into the league for one year and then wanted or got bigger deals than they had earned.

Then in the subsequent seasons they shat the proverbial bed. (Brunner has not done this part yet).

And Brunner did it in a half season, I personally have a hard time putting much stake in a half season. Look at Howard's start this year.

Was that typical of his play, or is that due to the fact that he didn't play during the lockout?

How many guys had a goal on him early that padded their stats, because he had very little preseason?

None of us really know

There is a reason that in this day and age a player makes it to the age of 27 before he gets discovered, call it a late bloomer.

But with scouts from all teams being all over the planet there are few players that have not been evaluated.

Brunner made his bones playing with Z, I am pretty sure Z could make me look better than I am, notice I did not say he could make me look good!

There are a lot of similarities between Brunner and Leino/Brunnstrim.

To say that there aren't, IMO, is ignoring facts to support your fandom of Him. I am not bashing here, because I was victim to the same thing with Ray Whitney.

I wanted him to be great on this team, even bought a Whitney Jersey, I defended his play on this board, but really he was not as good as I wanted him to be.

Instead of ignoring bad play, you are ignoring the similarities that in this case would make any NHL GM very nervous to sign Brunner to long term money, especially with the way Leino Panned out!

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“Told him if he wasn't ultra-competitive he couldn't come here. If he didn't bring it every day he couldn't come here, because he was going to hate it if he didn't, dislike the coach and dislike playing here.

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